Cristiano Ronaldo might be finding it harder than expected to score in Serie A, but Mario Mandzukic has stepped up his game. The towering Croatia international weighed in with another two goals on Saturday to help Juventus to a 3-1 victory over Napoli as the Bianconeri maintained their perfect start to the season.

After a seven year hiatus, the Samoa National Football Cup is back, with five teams across 30 clubs competing for the top prize. The five teams are from five geographical zones, four in Upolu and one from Savaii.

Malae Sofe has been appointed to officiate as an assistant referee in the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship taking place in the Solomon Islands, this week. Sofe is one of only two Assistant Referees from Samoa to officiate in Oceania competitions.

Samoa coach Martin Tamasese said the final victory will hopefully buoy the team as they now prepare to make the step up to meet their Group B opponents in Solomon Islands; New Caledonia, Tahiti and Fiji.

Samoa’s U-16 Boy’s football team competing at the Oceania Football Confederation U16 Preliminary Championship qualifiers in Tonga began its campaign on a positive note winning its first match against the Cook Islands 3 - 0.

Sliding across the rain-soaked turf holding the World Cup trophy tight, teenager Kylian Mbappe and the rest of France's players acted like the youthful bunch they are. Nothing, not a Pussy Riot protest nor a postgame downpour that soaked Russian President Vladimir Putin, was going to stop the party.

Beating world champion New Zealand gave Ireland "reassurance," lock Iain Henderson said on Monday. Two days after toppling the All Blacks 16-9 for the first time at home, Henderson said the team's prime motivation was not to be a one-win wonder.

Undisputed world cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk successfully defended his four belts and sent Tony Bellew into retirement by knocking out the British fighter in the eighth round in Manchester on Saturday.

The Samoa Basketball Federation started its four-day tournament at Apia Park gym earlier this week. The various categories competing in the tournament include open women and men, Under 17 and 14 boys, girls’ teams from Upolu, Savaii and an open men’s team from American Samoa.